Yenagoa, the commercial hub of Bayelsa
State was on standstill on Thursday, 13
November, 2014, due to the visit of wife
of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.
According to Punch report, social and
commercial activities were paralysed on the
Yenagoa Mbiama Road for many hours as a
result of traffic congestion that was caused
by overzealous security operatives, who
cordoned off some places with their vans.
It was gathered that the President’s wife
was in town to distribute empowerment
items to some groups in the state.
Due to the traffic gridlock, commuters and
motorists were seen struggling to make
detours, while those who were frustrated
by the long traffic jam disembarked from
their vehicles not knowing what to do next.
Speaking on the unfortunate situation, a
teacher in a school at the Erekpa area of the
town, Mr. Preye Goodluck, said the roads
had been blocked as early as 10am in
anticipation of Patience’s visit.
“As early as 10am, security personnel
blocked some roads in the Yenagoa
metropolis, particularly the Ovom and
Etegwe areas of the capital city.
“Scores of persons who went to the
outskirts of the metropolis, such as
Igbogene, Agudama and other places, were
also affected because they found it
extremely difficult to wade through the
snarls.
“Many of us who wished to get to other
parts of the metropolis had to pass through
Isaac Boro Expressway. Even the traffic on
the expressway was beginning to build up
around 3pm,” he said.
Also, a distraught motorist, Mrs. Stella
Honesty, wondered what the President’s
wife was coming to give as empowerment
items to the people.
She said: “Is it because general elections are
around the corner? In fact, if I were some
people, I will reject any empowerment.
Where was she all this while? Some of us
have refused to be deceived by this entire
political gimmick.
“Look at the kind of suffering one is going
through because she is coming. Must she
create tension each time she visits
anywhere? I have been trapped in this
logjam for a long time for a journey that
would not have been more than 30
minutes.”
Meanwhile, at the Samson Shania Stadium at
Ovom, Yenagoa venue of the programme,
Mrs. Jonathan gave away various gifts and
cheques to different groups.
She urged the women to vote en masse for
her husband, Jonathan, who recently
declared for re-election.
She said the People’s Democratic Party, PDP,
provided the best platform for women in
the country.
She reminded the women that her husband
had promised 35 per cent positions for
womenfolk in his government if he won the
2015 presidential elections.
It was however, gathered that Governor
Seriake Dickson was not present at the
event, but his deputy, Rear Admiral John
Jonah (retd.), attended.


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